Rory Burns, upon reaching three, brought up 8,000 career first-class runs for Surrey, who are 10 for 1 in the early stages against Kent at the Oval. Mark Stoneman was trapped lbw for a duck by Harry Podmore. Burns has five and Dean Elgar three.
A 50th Championship wicket of the season for Simon Harmer, who traps Tom Kohler-Cadmore lbw with one that turned and seemed to keep low. Yorkshire are 69 for 4.
Wickets all around the grounds, and they’re just getting underway between Surrey and Kent at the Oval following a delayed start due to a wet outfield. Kent have opted to bowl first. There’s also an injury update on Jimmy Anderson’s fitness from the ECB. Here’s the full statement:
“England seam bowler Jimmy Anderson, who left the field during Lancashire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Durham at Sedbegh School on Tuesday July 2 due to tightness to his right calf, underwent an MRI scan on Friday. The MRI confirmed that Anderson has suffered a low grade calf muscle tear. As a result of the injury, he will commence a rehabilitation programme with the England and Lancashire CCC medical teams.
“Anderson will miss Lancashire’s next two Championship matches against Northants and Sussex.
“He will be reassessed on an ongoing basis regarding his availability for the Specsavers Test match versus Ireland at Lord’s on July 24 and the Specsavers Ashes Series against Australia starting on August 1.”
Here’s our full story:
Yorkshire are three down, 45 for 3. Since my last post they have lost Gary Ballance, bowled around his legs for eight by Peter Siddle, who uprooted leg-stump, and Will Fraine, caught behind off a Jamie Porter away nipper for 29.
A quartet of wickets to report, the first here at Chelmsford. Adam Lyth has been caught at point by Nick Browne having skewed a drive at Jamie Porter for five, the ball after surviving a huge caught behind appeal. Yorkshire are 18 for 1. At the Ageas Bowl, Hampshire have lost Gareth Berg, bowled by Oliver Hannon-Dalby (they’re now 473-7). In Division Two, Leicestershire’s Muhammad Abbas has trapped Alex Lees lbw at Grace Road. Durham are 11 for 1. Derbyshire have also lost Billy Godleman to Dillon Pennington at Kidderminster and are 13-1.
There’s been plenty of oohs and arghs so far from the Essex bowlers and slip cordon, including an lbw shout from Jamie Porter against Adam Lyth with the first ball of the match. But Yorkshire have moved to 18 for 0 in the fifth over through Lyth and Will Fraine. There seems to be a bit of variable bounce in this pitch.
Notts have made three changes to their team for the clash with leaders Somerset at Taunton as they look to spark their season into life. They have handed a debut to the Sunderland-born Liam Patterson-White, a 20-year-old who bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin. Luke Wood and Jake Libby also come into the side, with Samit Patel left out, Stuart Broad unavailable and Joe Clarke suffering from a hamstring injury. Somerset have won the toss and will bat.
First stat of the week. Yorkshire have won an 11th successive toss (discounting uncontested tosses) and have chosen to bat first here at Chelmsford. Last week’s toss victory against Surrey at Scarborough made it a post-war record. Insert any jokes regarding Steve Patterson here.
Preamble
Good morning from a warm and muggy Chelmsford, where we are set for the feature fixture of the round between Essex and Yorkshire, two sides chasing Somerset at the top of Division One.
After eight games, Essex are second and 15 points adrift, while Yorkshire are third, a further 21 points back. The hosts have won their last three, including against Somerset here, while Yorkshire beat champions Surrey at Scarborough last week. Their next two fixtures are here this week and against Somerset at Headingley from Saturday. A good fortnight for them and it really could be game on.
It is one of three Division One fixtures starting today; the others top v bottom – Somerset v Nottinghamshire at Taunton – and Surrey hosting Kent at the Oval. Yesterday saw the start of Hampshire and Warwickshire at the Ageas Bowl, with Hampshire dominating that in blistering fashion with 450 for 6 at close. The stand-in opener Ian Holland (143) and Aneurin Donald (173) shared 262 for the fourth wicket, advancing from 168-4, to underpin a mammoth score. It was great to see Olly Stone take three wickets on his return from injury. This is his first competitive game since England’s one-day leg of their Sri Lanka tour in October.
There are four fixtures in Division Two, with leaders Glamorgan sitting this round out. That opens the door for second-placed Lancashire to replace them at the summit. They travel to Wantage Road to face a Northamptonshire side they beat by 10 wickets at home earlier in the campaign. Lancashire are only three points behind with a game in hand. They are without Jimmy Anderson, however, this week du to a calf injury.
Elsewhere, Leicestershire host Durham at Grace Road, Middlesex face Gloucestershire at Merchant Taylors’ School and Worcestershire meet Derbyshire at Kidderminster.
There is no World Cup cricket today ahead of this week’s semi-finals, but for an international it’s the women’s Ashes ODI at Canterbury. England desperately need a win there after back-to-back defeats.
Just returning to this fixture at Chelmsford. Rewind 13 or 14 months and it proved to be an incredible contest which saw Yorkshire, including Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, bowled out for 50 in the first innings and still win. It was an incredible game of cricket which I’d be surprised to see a repeat of for a very long time. I’ve seen some amazing cricket on this ground. In 2013, I saw Essex bowled out for 20 in the second innings of a defeat to Lancashire. If this week’s clash is half as entertaining, we’ll be in for a treat.